Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus)

Here's another member of the local wildlife set here in the Similkameen Valley. This is a Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus), photographed in a small river valley that empties into the Similkameen River, called the Ashnola. These little ground squirrels are quite commonly seen keeping watch along the roadsides and whistling warnings to other nearby squirrels of anything unusual or dangerous.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

No, this is NOT Victoria. It's another image from my recent vacation. These Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) were part of a group of about a dozen that I saw on a back road leading up into the Ashnola River Valley. I've seen these wild sheep in this area before but never at such a low altitude. Nor were they disturbed by my presence, seeming to be very hungrily cropping the first green sprouts on this hillside.